Hong Kong apartments present a unique set of conditions for plant lovers: high humidity, warm temperatures year-round, limited space, and varying light levels depending on your floor and orientation. The good news is that these conditions actually suit a wide range of tropical and subtropical plants beautifully.
Understanding Your Environment
Before choosing plants, consider a few things about your space. Most Hong Kong apartments receive indirect light, especially in older buildings with smaller windows or units that face other buildings. Humidity averages around 75–80% for much of the year, which tropical plants love. Summers are hot and typhoon-prone, winters are mild but can dip to around 10°C — cold enough to stress some sensitive species.
Best Plants for Hong Kong Apartments
Pothos (魔鬼藤) is arguably the perfect Hong Kong apartment plant. It tolerates low light, thrives in humidity, grows quickly, and is nearly impossible to kill. Trail it from a shelf or let it climb a moss pole. It also does a solid job of filtering indoor air.
Peace Lily (白掌) handles low-light corners well and produces elegant white blooms. It prefers the kind of warm, humid air that Hong Kong provides naturally for most of the year, though it will need more frequent watering in the dry winter months.
Snake Plant (虎尾蘭) is ideal for anyone who travels frequently or forgets to water. It tolerates neglect, low light, and variable temperatures. Its upright form also makes it great for tight spaces.
Monstera deliciosa thrives in Hong Kong’s humidity and indirect light. Given enough space, it becomes a dramatic statement plant. It grows quickly here — sometimes faster than you’d like — so be ready to repot or prune regularly.
Chinese Evergreen (粗肋草) is one of the most forgiving houseplants available, doing well in low light and handling the occasional missed watering. The varieties with pink or red colouring add a nice visual contrast in darker rooms.
ZZ Plant (金錢樹) stores water in its rhizomes, making it extremely drought-tolerant and well-suited to air-conditioned apartments where owners may be away for stretches. It grows slowly but steadily and looks polished in modern interiors.
Ferns — particularly Boston ferns and bird’s nest ferns (山蘇) — are in their element in Hong Kong. The natural humidity means they don’t need the constant misting that makes ferns so frustrating in drier climates. Bird’s nest ferns are especially popular locally and grow beautifully indoors.
Rubber Plant (橡皮樹) is a bold, architectural plant that does well in bright indirect light. It grows tall over time, which works well in apartments with higher ceilings.
A Few Things to Watch Out For
Air conditioning is the biggest challenge for indoor plants in Hong Kong. Most tropical plants dislike being placed directly under an AC unit, as the cold, dry air can cause leaf damage and dryness. Keep plants away from direct airflow.
Pests are more active in the warm, humid months. Fungus gnats, spider mites, and mealybugs are common — check the undersides of leaves regularly and treat early with neem oil or insecticidal soap.
Overwatering is the most common cause of plant death here. Because the humidity is so high, soil stays wet longer than in drier climates. Always check that the top inch or two of soil is dry before watering again, and make sure your pots have drainage holes.
Where to Buy
You’ll find a good selection of indoor plants at the flower markets in Mong Kok (花墟道) and Sham Shui Po, as well as at IKEA, B&Q, and local nurseries like those scattered through the New Territories. Many online shops and Instagram sellers in Hong Kong also deliver directly to your door, often with competitive prices and good variety.
Starting Out
If you’re new to plants, start with a pothos, snake plant, or ZZ plant — all three are widely available, inexpensive, and forgiving. Once you’ve got a feel for how plants behave in your specific apartment (your light levels, how quickly soil dries, seasonal changes), you can branch out into more demanding species with confidence.
